Kristjan Stopar: The Right Time for Entrepreneurship? Don't Wait. Start.

At the Winter Financial School for Teenagers, Kristjan Stopar, co-founder and CEO of Humanodoro, shared a simple but powerful message with young participants: don't wait for the perfect moment to start a business.

At just 25 years old, Kristjan co-founded Humanodoro with his best friend Urban Košale. Within a year, the company launched its smart Humanodoro Pad, a physical device paired with a mobile app that helps users reduce excessive phone use, improve productivity, and build healthier digital habits. The startup also went on to win the fourth edition of the Business Gladiator program.

From Idea to Product

The idea for Humanodoro came from personal experience. Both founders recognized their own excessive phone usage and noticed the same pattern among their peers. Rather than promoting complete disconnection from technology, their goal became clear: encourage more balanced and intentional use.

The Humanodoro Pad works by allowing users to set a phone-free time interval in the app and place their phone on the smart pad. If the phone is moved during that time, the app detects it. The solution also includes gamification elements, enabling users to connect with friends or family for motivation and accountability.

Development of the first prototype took approximately three to four months. In the early stages, the founders financed the project themselves, later receiving additional support through startup programs. The team has since expanded, including a third co-owner, Matej Plešej.

Lessons from the Startup Journey

Kristjan openly discussed the challenges of launching both a hardware product and a mobile app at the same time. From production costs and logistics to user experience and marketing strategy, the learning curve has been steep.

Despite the intensity of startup life, his key advice to young aspiring entrepreneurs is simple:

Start as early as possible. Waiting for the "perfect time" often only delays growth and learning. The younger you are, the more room you have to experiment, fail, and improve.

He also emphasized the importance of humility, responsibility, and asking questions without fear. According to Kristjan, truly successful entrepreneurs are always willing to share knowledge with those eager to learn.

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